Stakeholders at the international construction and building exhibition, Elan Expo, have hinged the ability of operators in the construction and real sectors to reduce their operational costs on the adoption of indigenous technology and continuous development of green solutions.

They also said there is a need to build for the modern future by embracing nw solutions that will address infrastructural challenges in the built and construction industry.

Speaking at the just-concluded exhibition, Project Coordinator, Nigeria Build Expo, Jude Chime, said the expo is expected to open up investment opportunities in the nation’s built industry as well as other value chains.

“We have brought together important building professionals of Nigeria, international manufacturers around the world, services and technologies providers to explore opportunities in one of the fast developing sectors in the country.

“We expect the impact of the expo to be massive on the society going by the ideas shared among multilateral agencies and companies present at the expo. We are also optimistic of improved trade ties.

“According to government’s development plans, infrastructure investments, renewable energy, housing projects, production facilities, health and education complexes will be finalised until 2043 and these entire projects positively affect national construction sector.

“All these developments take the interest of foreign companies to Nigeria. The companies that want to take part in Nigeria market are looking for new partners in the country. BuildExpo gives investors the opportunity to take part in this growing market,” he added.

On his part, the National Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Mechanical Engineers (NiMechE), Ugochukwu Nzurumike, who also represented the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), said the expo offered opportunities to explore how to bring down the cost of production through green solutions, and adaptation of technology, rather than depending on technology transfer.

He noted that the peculiarity of the Nigerian environment required bespoke solutions that will be sustainable.

Commenting on the reconstruction works ongoing in the North-East of the country, Kori Shettima of the Ministry of Works and Transport, Maiduguri, Borno State, said the expo will serve as an opportunity to attract needed interventions to aid rehabilitation works in the region.

According to her, post-conflict construction requires a lot of investments and interventions that can be accessed from several agencies, hence the need for partnerships to achieve the set objectives .

President, Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Kenneth Nwabuife, explained that knowledge-sharing among participants will further help to address issues of sustainability in the built industry and bridge the demand gaps.

The incoming President, Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria, Mrs Felicia Agubata, and the Cice-chairman, Nigerian Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Lagos Chapter, Mrs Funmi Akingbagbohun, expressed commitment of the professional bodies towards the expo, adding that stakeholders will continue to explore solutions for infrastructural gaps in Nigeria.